According to NBC News (not just me this time), texting is officially out — and handwritten notes are most certainly in. Of course, part of the magic of stationery is the enormous breadth of makers in our community. Here you are encouraged to go off the mainstream path to discover — well, who knows, really? While every strong range tells a story, there’s a story behind each maker as well.
Take New Jersey’s Shades of Expression Designs. This multi-generation, woman-owned family business has a mission of sharing kindness and love with one another, and it all starts with that beautiful illustration coming out of an envelope to greet you.
This past week I visited my favorite local independent bookstore — Mac’s Backs, a mainstay of our Coventry shopping area for four decades and counting. I was thrilled to see a really strong stationery assortment — including cards, stickers and a ton ‘o journals — and of course I had a million questions about how their customers shop and what sells best. I wasn’t too surprised when owner Suzanne DeGaetano told me that their strongest card sellers are Thinking of You and Just Because Cards.
There is just something open-ended about these categories that seems to resonate, especially now. After all, we certainly can’t always fix what troubles our loved ones, but we can send some empathy in the mail. I love that Shades of Expressions offers a card for every conceivable taste and passion — choose from designs driven by flora and fauna, quotes, food, landscapess, even simple copy gold-foiled against a colorful background. I think you will agree that every last one resonates!
If for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, for every card, there is a sender and recipient just waiting to be elevated by it. In the words of its founder, “We hope they bring as much joy to others as they do for us.”
Shop this multi-generation, women-owned brand on Etsy (where they are, unsurprisingly, a five-star seller), direct from their website, or, if you are in the trade, on Faire.
